In many parts of the world, December brings colder weather and the hustle and bustle of the pre-Christmas season. Shopping centers light up with fairy lights, and Christmas trees are beautifully decorated. Here at SALEM in Mindo, while we don’t experience snowy days or cold temperatures, the holiday season is still a special time—filled with festive spirit, meaningful traditions, and community celebrations.

One of our biggest events at SALEM Ecuador is the annual Café Navideño, a year-end gathering where we welcome guests from Mindo and nearby communities. This celebration is more than just a festive event; it’s an opportunity for us to share our mission, vision, educational approach, and values with the wider community.

This year, the children took center stage, preparing a musical and cultural program with great enthusiasm. Completely self-organized, they decided to include traditional dances and practiced every day after lunch for weeks. Their dedication truly paid off!

Of course, no celebration is complete without delicious treats. Together with the children and teenagers, we baked countless cookies and an assortment of cakes for our guests. Families of SALEM children also joined in, bringing food for the cafeteria and helping with preparations such as cleaning, decorating, and gardening.

The event wasn’t solely about our efforts though—local groups also contributed to the success of the day. Mindo’s library and the local football club ‘Zapato Volador’ set up stands to showcase their programs. Additionally, a local dance group put on a fantastic performance.

All in all, the afternoon was a great success. The children were proud to present their program and received well-deserved praise for their hard work. Meanwhile, the adults had the chance to mingle over cookies, cakes, and savory dishes, strengthening bonds within the community and getting to know SALEM better.

Looking back, this event highlighted the power of working together. It’s a reminder that as a community, we can achieve great things and continue making Mindo a place where everyone is seen as equal and important. Take a look at the photos and videos to get an impression of our preparations and the celebration itself. Enjoy browsing through the gallery!

Impressions

 

You can find the videos of the 2024 Christmas Fair in our video library

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If you’re interested in more SALEM Café Navideños, you can check out our article about the Café Navideño 2022 here (the text is in Spanish, but that’s not important if you just want to look at the pictures).

by Daniel Wolpers — SALEM Volunteer 24/25